Photo by Gwyneth J. Saunders/The Sun Today Model Yacht Group Commodore Tim Crowley, left, guides newcomer Jeff Wolfson in using the radio controls that work Crowley's model sailboat. Guests can "take the helm" during the 2 p.m. meeting every Sunday at Lake Somerset.

Photo by Gwyneth J. Saunders/The Sun Today Fran DiTommaso packs away the sails of his East Coast 12 Meter sailboat. The homemade case also contains sails for a smaller model and makes it a safe way to transport the sails to regattas around the region.

Photo by Gwyneth J. Saunders/The Sun Today Bundled up against the weather, members of the Sun City Model Yacht Group work the radio controls that work the sails on their East Coast 12 Meter models on Lake Somerset.

Photo by Gwyneth J. Saunders/The Sun Today Bob Foerg brings his sailboat into shore for some adjustments. The model boats are radio controlled and the radio receiver in the hull manipulates the sails to catch the wind.

Four hardy souls maneuver their sailboats on Lake Somerset on a gray, windy Sunday afternoon.

"It's a lifestyle," said Model Yacht Group member Fran DiTommaso. "We sail four days a week and the other days we work on the boats."

Sunday and Thursday afternoons are sailing days for those who race the East Coast 12 Meter models. The mast is six feet tall, the hull is 59 inches long and the boats weigh about 24 pounds. They operate under about 1,200 square inches of sail maneuvered to catch the wind through a radio transmitter.

"Once you decide to tack, you tack," said group Commodore Tim Crowley to Sun City newcomer Jeff Wolfson. "Get the feeling for following it with your thumbs."

Sailing isn't new to Crowley. He and his wife spent 30 years living on a full-sized sailboat in Mystic, Conn., in the summers.

"Let the sheets out," he tells Wolfson.

The boats on the water skim over the surface, the strong breeze pushing them fast as the sailors tack to make the most of the weather.

Bob Foerg commands his vessel to pull to shore and stands on the edge of the boat ramp to lift it out. The sails have ceased to respond to the remote control's signals, requiring some attention from Foerg. He pulls the tape off the bottom edge of the hull cover that protects the electronics inside from water and reaches inside to rewind the shock cord.

"Temperamental," he said. "Guess that's why they call boats 'she'."

He slides the cover back into its frame, replaces the tape and puts the boat back in the water.

The four sailors line their boats up behind the pair of buoys that mark the starting line and DiTommaso pushes the button on the countdown timer that will start the race.

Watching the race but not participating on this day is Dominick Cea. He races both the EC12 and the Soling One Meter, a smaller vessel. He began racing 11 years ago, a year after he moved to Sun City and a year after the club had been started by Carter Cain.

"They're so different," he said referring to the boats. "One is much easier to put in the water. The Soling is only 10 pounds. I can't get down there anymore but the guys are always helping, putting the boat in the water."

Newcomers, like Wolfson are always welcome. A year ago, Bob Roehl began sailing. It was something he always wanted to do.

"I was happy to find someone who was selling their boat," he said. "I couldn't afford to do this otherwise."

It's not the cheapest hobby. A new boat can cost up to $3,200 between the hull, the sails and the radio transmitter. Most cost a bit less because some of the sailors can build their own hulls. There is usually someone selling a boat — either because they've stopped sailing or bought a newer model.

"Best thing is to ask around at the meetings," DiTommaso said.

The meetings are held lakeside and on Sundays it's an open day for those who have never sailed radio controlled vessels to try their hands at sailing the members' boats. Wolfson's son bought him a different model boat that he needs to put together but he'll be limited in his racing because the fun is competing in like classes, Crowley tells him.

Nonetheless, Wolfson watches the boats eagerly as they fly gracefully in the spray of the fountain, tacking around the buoys in the laps.

"I could get hooked on this immediately," he said.

CATCH THE WIND

The Model Yacht Group sails in three different classes: Micro Magics at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday; Soling One Meter 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; and EC12 Meter at 2 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays. For more information, call 705-1088.